A space odyssey in 3D theatre

KEEN astronomers gained an insight into how ``Earth fits into the scheme of things'' at Launceston Church Grammar School yesterday.

The school had organised for the Australian Academy and Research Network's Immersive Global Learning Environment's portable device, known as IGLEw, to be at the school from Canberra, and open to the public.

The IGLEw is an inflatable immersive 3D theatre that helps explain how the solar system and the universe work.

It even shows constellations, galaxies, planets and moons in real time.

Grammar head of house and science teacher Patrick Moroney said the device was a great way to get people to learn about science firsthand.

``Kids are the scientists of the future and anything you've got that gives them the opportunity to do something that excites them is great,'' he said.

Participants were even able to control the device themselves to see how the system worked.

Highlights included seeing how many satellites circled Earth and how many galaxies are believed to exist.

The IGLEw will be transported this week to Hobart, where it will be used by a number of schools.